U.S. President George W. Bush's ongoing Mideast visit may bring winds of comfort rather than peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians, said political analysis, though premier Ehud Olmert promised Thursday an Israeli parliament approval of Palestinian statehood once the time arrives.
"President Bush's visit can not assist in overcoming the grave and serious difficulties of the Israeli-Palestinian peace process," Shlomo Avineri, Professor of Political Science at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, told Xinhua on Thursday.
The main purpose of Bush's visit is to salute Israel's 60thbirthday and to show U.S. supports for Israel, which just carries a symbolic meaning, he said.
In his point of view, the gap between Israel and the Palestinians is too deep regarding the final-status issues including the return of Palestinian refugees, Jerusalem and the borders.
"There is no meaning to the agreements that were achieved or will be achieved as long as Hamas controls the Gaza Strip," Avineri said, adding "it is hard to see a peace agreement being achieved anytime in the near future."
"The Palestinians need to reach peace among themselves before they sit around the negotiation table in an attempt to reach peace with Israel," he stressed.
Almost half a year has passed since the U.S.-host international conference on Mideast peace held at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.
It was orchestrated by President Bush who brought together Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Foreign Minister TzipiLivni, and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and his premier Salam Fayyad.
For the first time since Camp David Summit in 2000, a two-state solution marked as a mutually agreed-upon outline for addressing the Israeli-Palestinian conflicts.
By the time the Annapolis conference was adjourned, President Bush announced the solution would turn into reality by the end of2008, around the time he is scheduled to step down.
However, six months passed and there is no signs of ending the conflicts.
"This entire political negotiation is a waste of time because we negotiate with a powerless part of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) who can not commit to anything," Israeli former Defense Minister and former Foreign Minister Moshe Arens told Xinhua.
Arens echoed professor Avineri's view, saying Bush's recent visit bears mainly strengthening and festive meanings, showing the world the U.S. continuing support for its ally in the Mideast.
"It is quite possible that the U.S. president is not completely aware of the problems this negotiation suffers, despite the undoubted good intentions," said Arens.
When asked if Olmert's decision to continue the Annapolis accords is an attempt to divert the media attention from his corruption investigation, Arens said Olmert's recent declarations intended to maintain the support of the coalition since the criminal affair received publicity.
"Olmert is talking about this fictitious agreement, a virtual agreement, and the remarks he made about giving back the Golan Heights to the Syrians is a trial to maintain the support of the coalition and of the left-wing parties such as Meretz, Labor and the Arab parties. It is possible that the investigation affects his decision but he certainly does well in maintaining a strong coalition that functions as usual," Arens explained.
He believed Israel should seize control over the Gaza Strip and neutralize the rocket launchers.
Sattar Kassem, Professor of political science at the An-Najah National University near Nablus, held that no agreement will ever be reached as long as Israel does not recognize the Palestinians' rights of returning to Israel in accordance with international law under the Geneva Conventions.
The problem with the Israelis and the Americans is that their stances emerge from "a Western state of mind". the United States and Israel failed over and over to reach a peace agreement because they don't see the big picture and don't understand it. What they really do is building up for the next war, Professor Kassem said.
"There is no hope for a solution without the Palestinian's return. If they don not accept it, war will continue," the Professor added.
"A visit of the U.S. President is always accompanied by an increased media coverage. This is a chance to expose Israel's positive actions, unfortunately, the usual negative coverage Israel receives daily," an official of the Israeli Prime Minister office told Xinhua on condition for anonymity.
Despite the rough times ahead of Olmert, for Israel's part, it is clear that the purpose of the visit at the end of Bush's mandate is to keep the flame of a peace process, to make sure the platform of the peace talks exists and it will serve future discussions when one of the sides decides to return to the negotiation table.
"Israel understands perfectly that it faces a complex situation. On one hand Hamas controls the Gaza Strip, on the other hand, both sides are determined to continue the peace efforts," the official added.
Though the American presence in Israel's 60th anniversary infuses sparks of hope, it is clear that a peace agreement is not coming soon, according to the political analysts.
Source:Xinhua
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